mallinson



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. MALLINSON.

PIANO FORTE ACTION.

Patented Jan. 9, 1883.

INVENTOR (No Model 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. MALLINSON. PIANO FORTE ACTION.

\ P No. 270,322. Patented Jan. 9,1883.

Z i r *v FICYIB WITNESSES OR N PETIZRS. Pholc-Lflhngmphcr. Washmglcn. Dv C.

PATENT FFICE.

JOSEPH MALLINSON, OF SELBY, COUNTY OF YORK, ENGLAND.

PIANO-FORTE ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 270,322, dated January 9, 1883.

Application filed August 15, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH MALLINsoN, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Selby, in the county of York, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Actions of Piano-Fortes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an action for 'iiano-t'ortes of a more simple construction and one less liable to get out of order than those heretofore employed, and at a great reduction in the cost of manufacture. For this purpose, at the end of each key I secure a metal wire. which, ata given distance, is made with a circle or coil; or the wire is made with two, three, four, or more coils. The wire, alter having formed thccoilor coils,is brought up, and, at a given distance, formed with a circlc or coil, or with coils, as hereinbefore described, and the wire, alter having formed the coil or coils, is bent into a curve to fit over the hammer-butt. The coils give a springing action when motion is transferred from the key to the hammer, thus preventing blockin The hammer-butt is fixed at a given angle to the bracket of the hammer stick or rod, and the under part of the hammer-butt rests on the top of the coil or coils formed on the top of the nictal wire, so that when the key is struck the coil or coils lift up the hammerbutt and bring the end of the curved top wire in contact with the top of the hammer-butt, which holds the hammer in check, preventing any shake or false notes, and also preventing the action from getting outof order, and giving a perfect action to the hammer. For piano-forteshavingsticker-actions,Iemploysimilarly-conslructetl wires, having a coil or coils, which are secured in the key ends. The top (3011 or coils bears or bearagainstthe under side of each lever or sticker of the action. In some cases I employ wires having coils which I do not fit into thekeys. The bottom coil or coils rests or rest on the top of a regulating-screw, which is fitted in the end of the key, and the wire is secured in a rail which is fitted to the action. When a key is struck it causes the wire having the coils to lift, which lifts up the hammer-butt, causing the hammer to fall and strike the wire or wires ofthe piano-forte. At

the same time the curved top end of the wire acts on the top of the hammer-butt, givinga check, which holds the hammer in position and prevents a false stroke. The wires having a coil or coils can be fitted to horizontal actions as well as to upright ones. By these means I construct actions of piano-forties that are simple in construction, not liable to get out of order, and very cheap, and with a perfect repeating action.

In order-to enable my invention to bebetter understood, I will proceed to describe the same by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improvements fitted to a piano-forte; Fig. 2, a front View of the same. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of my improvements having a regulating-screw titted in the end of the key. Fig. 4 represents a side view of a metal wire having a single coil, and Fig. 5 isafront view of the same.

Similar letters of reference represent similar parts.

To each key A of a piano-forte I secure a metal wire, B, madewith a coilorcoils, Uand I),Figs.4 and 2. The coils haviugbecn formed, the wire is made with a curved end, E, which tits over the hammer-butt F. The coils allow aspring action when motion is trr'urs'terred from the key A to the hammer G. The hammer-butt F is connected at a given angle to the bracket II, in which is secured the hammer-stick I of the hammer G; and the bottom part, J, of the hammer-butt F rests on the top ofthe coil or coils D, so that when a key, A, is struck the coil or coils D is or are lifted up, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the hammerbutt F is forced up, at the same time bringing the top part, K, of the curved end E in contact with the top L of the hammer-butt F, which holds the hammer G in check and prevents any shake or false note, besides giving a perfect action to the hammer G, and also preventing the action getting out of order. When a key, A, is struck it causes the wire B to lift, forcing up the hammer Gr, causing it to fall and strike the wire or wires M of the piauo forte, and at the sametiine the part K of the curved end E comes in contact give the iequired lift to the wire 13.

with the top of the hammer-butt, checking the hammer, and thus preventing a false stroke.

I may employ my wires 13, secured in a rail, N, fittedin the inside of the piano-forte. The

bottom part of each wire is made with one or two single coils, or with double or more coils, and also with a top single coil, or with several coils, also with a curved end, E, which actsin a similar manner to that hereinbefore described on the top of the hammer-butt F; but the hammer-butt in this case is made with a dropping-piece, O, and the hammer-stick I is secured in the top of the hammer-butt F.

The key A is fitted with a regulating-screw, P, over which is placed a piece of cloth or leather, Q,or other suitable material. 011 the piece of cloth orleather rests the coil or coils. The screw can be set and regulated so as to When a key, A, is struck the screw P and cloth or leather Q lil'ts up the wire and actuates the hannnerbutt in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described. On the top of the rail N, for each key and piano-forte wire or wires M, is secured a wire, R, having coils, and to which is fitted a damper, S. To the top coil is secured a band, '1, joined on a hook, U. secured in the end 00f the hammer-butt F. The

band removes the damper S from the wire or wires M when a key is struck.

For piano-fortes having sticker-actions, I

employ similarly-constructed wires, having" coils, and which are secured in the key A of the piano-forte, and the top coil or coils bears or bear against the under side of each lever or sticker of the action.

The wires, having coils, ma he fitted to horizontal actions as well as to upright ones.

Having now particularly described and as (ertained thena-ture of the said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed and carried out in practice, I would have it understood that I do notconfine myself to the precise details shown and described, as they may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of the invention but What I claim is-- 1. In a piano-forte action, the jacks or hoppers made of metal wires having coils and a curved end arranged to fit over and act on the hammer-butts, substantially in the manner shown and described.

2. In a piano-forte action, jacks or hoppers composed each ot' a single wire, the upper part or end of which is bent into a curve adapted to fit over and hold the hammer in check, and thus prevent shakes or false notes, substantially as shown and described.

JOSEPH MALLlNSON.

\Vitnesses:

WALTER J AS. TURNER, SAMUEL A. DRACUP. 

